As Lambert openly wept on stage, Shelton recounted for the television audience how the loss of his older brother, Richie, and father, Dick, spurred the couple to write the song.

“My dad always told me, `Son, you should write a song about your brother,’” Shelton said. “I lost my dad in January, and it’s so amazing to me that tonight even after he’s gone, he’s still right. I just needed the right person to write this song with and the right person to sing it.”

The win came as something of a surprise, but fit right in to a CMA Awards that went off-script early as Little Big Town and Thompson Square earned surprise wins.

Beloved veteran quartet Little Big Town won single of the year for “Pontoon,” knocking off some of the most popular acts of the last year in doing so. And Thompson Square ended Sugarland’s five-year run in the vocal duo category, an award that’s gone to either Sugarland or Brooks & Dunn 19 of the last 20 years.

“Ever since I was 5 years old, I used to practice in the kitchen with one of my Meemaw’s Mason jars for this moment here,” Shawna Thompson said.

Country music’s fastest rising stars Jason Aldean, Eric Church and Luke Bryan kicked off the CMA’s by joining forces. Playing with a large American flag behind them, the trio of performers teamed up on Aldean’s new single “The Only Way I Know” from his new album “Night Train” and earned a standing ovation.

Most of country’s top stars were on hand at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for the celebration, with many slated to perform. Taylor Swift arrived in a detailed red and nude lace dress to some of the night’s loudest cheers and mingled with fans who made signs to draw her attention. Art imitated life as stars from the new drama “Nashville” like Hayden Panetierre mingled with the folks they mimic, drawing just as many screams. And many stars reflected on the tragedy brought by Superstorm Sandy.

Co-hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley kicked off the show with a country version of Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” “We got moves like Haggard.” They did their own version of Psy’s “Gangnam Style” and riffed on Swift’s hit single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” noting she is rumored to have recently broken up with boyfriend Conor Kennedy.

When Underwood informed him of the news they were unlikely to get back together, he asked: “Never?” Underwood responded, “Ever,” and the two played verbal hot potato for a few seconds before Paisley ended the joke by saying, “Maybe Taylor will write a song about it.”

They also poked a little fun at the night’s honored guest, Willie Nelson, who was due to receive a lifetime achievement award and perform with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum and Blake Shelton.

“Tonight we are honoring the great Willie Nelson,” Paisley said, “and also simultaneously we are going to strip you of all your CMA Awards. Sorry.”

The 79-year-old Nelson walked the carpet before the show with his wife, Annie. One of the most beloved figures in not just country music, but American popular culture, Nelson was stopped several times for hugs. He deflected most questions about the lifetime achievement award he would be receiving with jokes.